IOGA pitches fracking delay by the numbers

The state Independent Oil & Gas Association, New York’s most vocal pro-hydrofracking trade organization, is borrowing a page from the Harper’s Index by launching a weekly-ish daily “Natural Gas Number” quantifying aspects of the state’s five-year process of examining the controversial drilling technique — “what New York has lost, and what other states have gained, since the American natural gas boom began,” as IOGA puts it in a release:

The first Natural Gas Number is 1,882 – the number of days that have passed since then-Governor David Paterson placed a moratorium the permitting of high-volume, hydraulic fracturing – a technology that is being safely and responsibly used in all other states that harvest natural gas.

1,882 days ago, George W. Bush was still president and Andrew Cuomo was in his second year as attorney general. At the former home of the Mets, which has since been demolished and replaced, Billy Joel performed to a sold-out stadium. .

“The consensus among all credible scientific sources, including the federal government, leading universities and independent researchers is that well-regulated natural gas production is safe, is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and is benefitting the economy and, yes, the environment,” said Brad Gill, IOGA of NY executive director. “Today’s number – 1,882 – represents more than five years of political indecision. The science is settled on this issue. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous and ignores reality.”